The Panther boys varsity baseball team was busy over spring break as they faced off with Menno/Scotland on Friday, April 7 and travelled to Parkston on Monday, April 10. Big innings at the plate gave Dakota Valley two mores victories to keep them undefeated.

The Panther softball team was able to stay close to home for their 3rd contest of the season. Originally, the game on Monday, April 3 was slated to take place at Tri-Valley, but instead Dakota Valley hosted due to harsh weather up north.

In a tight home game versus the Centerville Tornadoes, on Monday, April 3, the Panthers baseball team closed out with a win. The contest would be tied throughout the fifirst 3 innings. Scores by the Panthers in the 4th and 6th innings would give DV the victory by a fifinal of 5- 2.

Dakota Valley athletes named to all-state 11A teams from the South Dakota High School Football Coaches Association were: Offense: WR: Jaxon Hennies (SR); and Defense: DB: Randy Rosenquist (SR); and Honorable Mention: Ethan Anema (SR).

Thursday, April 6 was a big day for Dakota Wesleyan University’s (DWU) mens basketball team as Randy Rosenquist, a Dakota Valley senior, signed to play there for his college career. His older sister, Rylee, already plays basketball at DWU and was an All-GPAC Honorable Mention in her first season on campus in Mitchell, SD.

Mackenzie Keizer, a senior at Dakota Valley and resident of Dakota Dunes, signed with the dance and cheer teams at Morningside University on Thursday, April 6. Keizer was a part of the state championship dance team for Dakota Valley. She was also a pupil at 5678! Dance Studio in North Sioux City under the direction of owner, instructor and coach Melissa Strong.

It was on Thursday, April 6 that senior Jaxon Hennies, of Dakota Valley, signed his commitment letter to play basketball at Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) in Mitchell, SD. “I chose Dakota Wesleyan because I thought it would give me the best chance to succeed academically along with athletically,” Hennies commented.

The Dakota Valley girls and boys track squads represented well at the first outdoor meet of the season at Elk Point-Jefferson on Monday, April 3. The Panther girls were runner-ups at the meet behind Colman-Egan, while the Panther boys finished 4th as a team.

For the first time ever, high school softball in South Dakota will be played as a sanctioned sport. And with its inaugural season, the Panthers look to be competitive.

The Panther girls golf team will be adding more depth this season as they see their roster size grow in comparison to last year. The team will once again be coached by Brooke Ehlers. Upperclassmen for this talented roster includes senior Lexi Squier and juniors Peyton Carlson and Eliana Vondracek.